United Presbyterian Home

Feb 21, 2014

The monthly Campus Breakfast Buffet was held on Thursday, Feb. 13, with a large turn out of residents.

Dorothy Grim’s visitors for the week included her daughter, Paula Sanders of Fruitland, Idaho, and daughter and son-in-law, Barb and Richard Westpfahl of Roseville, Minn. They enjoyed visiting, dining together and playing cards.

Betty Beenblossom attended a surprise birthday party on Saturday for her grandson, Luke Beenblossom. Luke’s sister Brynn did a wonderful job of planning the party. Those attending included Matt, Karlyn, Tia and Taryn Beenblossom of Ankeny, Kaitlyn and Chloe Glosser of Packwood, Grandpa Herb, Grandma Vicki and cousin Bryce of Washington, along with Luke’s parents, Marty and Theresa Beenblossom. The afternoon was spent opening gifts, eating cake and ice cream prepared by Brynn, playing games, visiting and getting a car out that was stuck in the snow. The weather did not cooperate.

The 2013 Be A Star award winners, all sporting red T-shirts in observance of Valentine’s Day, gathered in the Fitness Center on Friday morning for a group photo and to receive their prize. Residents who exercise a total of 150 times through the Wellness and Fitness Center during a one-year period are recognized for their efforts as a Be A Star award winner and given a UPH water bottle. The 27 2013 Be A Star recipients are: Connie Bauer, Betty Beenblossom, Esther Bordwell, Jackie Bower, Jeaniene Dusenbery, Julia Gamon, Dean Garrett, Del Henningfield, Richard Henningfield, Mildred Houseal, Gerald Hoyle, Bob Huber, Joyce Huff, Pat Jenkins, Marilyn Johnston, Kathy Knutson, Dorothy Miller, Melva Mineart, Reid Orris, Myron Shields, Ted Stewart, Betty Thompson, Charlie Thompson, Elna Tompkins, Hank Tompkins, Marion Turnipseed, and Dorothy White. Keep on exercising!

The WACO middle school students volunteered at the United Presbyterian Home on Friday as part of their Friday enrichment program. They aided residents with computer work, helped in the day care, played games with residents in the Health Center and made valentines for residents. We appreciate their gift of time.

A large crowd gathered for the Valentine Dance on Friday, Feb. 14. Resident and talented musician David Draheim delighted residents and guests with keyboard music of popular tunes. New resident Mary Temple labeled his music as very energizing and she showed everyone some of that energy on the dance floor. Everyone from able-bodied dancers to toe tappers moved to the beat of the music. David entertained residents with his keyboard music in the Health Center prior to the afternoon dance. Residents enjoyed the concert and were impressed that David took requests and knew the music that they wanted to hear.

Some of the kitchen staff came out to listen and direct the singing as the ladies at the coffee shop had a good time celebrating Carol Ray’s birthday on Wednesday morning, Feb. 19. They started out with "For You’re a Jolly Good Fellow" and went on to "Clementine" and a lot of other old favorites.

Leon Hansen celebrated his birthday one day early in the Town Center on Wednesday morning, Feb. 19, by bringing doughnuts for residents to share. Leon said that he learned early on that this was the thing to do.

In 1886, the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) took a vacation in Austria where he composed the 14-movement humorous suite “The Carnival of the Animals” which has become one of his most popular works. He knew he should be working on his Third Symphony, but this was “such fun.” There were a few private performances, but Saint-Saëns forbade its publication during his lifetime, saying it would detract from his “serious” composer image. To hear it right, one needs to hear it coupled with the delightful verses by Ogden Nash.